Borgnipan

The three hills Borgen, Svalnipan and Rödskäggsnipan rise up like mighty sentinels at the inflow of Faxälven into Ångermanälven. From the top of the hill, there is a magnificent view of the river and the surrounding landscape in one of the most beautiful parts of Ådalen. The reserve has easy walking trails, picnic areas, a picnic hut and toilet.

The Nipkullarna hills in Granvåg have been shaped by the Ångermanälven and Faxälven rivers changing course several times and flowing on both sides of them. The two rivers have shaped the hills with their steep sandbanks and the plain between them. Sandbanks made up of sand and fine-grained soil are also known as nipas. Pine forests grow on the hills and farmland spreads out below.

Svalnipan and Rödskägget are two examples of where you can see the different soil layers. They have the gravel ridge as a common core. The variegated deposits can be studied in the north ridge of Svalnipan and the south ridge of Rödskägget. The humpback swallows build their nests in the steep walls of the nip and this has given the swallow's nip its name.

The farmers in Västergranvåg fished with seines. This is a type of net used for fishing in flowing water. The log cabins were used for overnight stays and for storing salmon and seines. The seine was hauled every two hours around the clock on all days when the salmon were migrating. Nowadays, the salmon are stopped at Sollefteå power station and the streams are dammed. The cottages have been restored to remind us how important river fishing has been in our history.

The steep and sandy nipa slopes have vegetation that is adapted to cope with drought. Many nipas were previously used for grazing and haymaking. Since then, they have often become overgrown with deciduous forest on the slopes and pine forest in the upper parts. In south-facing and open nipas there are plants that are adapted to heat and drought. In Granvågsniporna, the unusual sedge has been found in sparse old pine forest and at the northern foot of the nip.